Life, 1903-10-15 · page 9 of 24
Life — October 15, 1903 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a portrait drawing of a woman with early 1900s styling (upswept hair, defined features) accompanied by a poem titled "On Her Portrait" by Felix Carmen. The poem contrasts two perspectives: an artist who captured the subject's physical beauty through line and sketch, versus a lover who claims to possess her "precious part"—her heart. The verse humorously argues that while the artist achieved technical success in depicting "the witchcraft and grace" of her face, only love can truly know "the happy, girlish heart." This appears to be a light satirical commentary on artistic rivalry and romantic devotion—suggesting that physical representation, however skillful, cannot match emotional intimacy. The tone is genteel rather than sharply satirical, typical of Life's early 1900s social humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Copyright. 1903, by Lise Pubiteding Co. On Her Portrait. TH artist got ahead of you For once, Myrtilla mine, And what his pencil said of you Is seen here, line by line: He fairly caught the face of you,— At least I recognize The witchery and grace of you About the mouth and eyes. For me who choose to sing of you,— Your lover all the time,— I ask one priceless thing of you To recompense the rhyn Be mine the precious part of you That only Love can see,— The happy, girlish heart of you That holds the heart of me. Feliz Carmen, comicbooks.com